Painkiller: Hell and Damnation is an old-school shooter in the mould of Doom and Quake. The aim is to pick up the biggest, baddest weapons and lay waste to legions of undead, scores of demons and giant screen-filling monsters.

Lacking the sophistication of modern shooters, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation wears its classical style on its sleeve.

Unfortunately, however, like an aging soldier who doesn't know when to lay down the rifle, Hell and Damnation is shot down by a number of far superior contemporaries.

Part sequel, part Painkiller greatest hits package, the game requires some prior knowledge of the series so far, with characters that reappear with little or no explanation.

As fans of the old-school shooters on which Painkiller: Hell and Damnation is based, the focus on all-out action is actually quite refreshing at first, although it soon becomes tiresome.

Enemies scurry out from every crack and crevice of the game's enclosed arenas, and there's no need to worry about cover systems or team-based tactics.

It's complemented by a rocking heavy metal soundtrack, reminiscent of testosterone-fuelled shooters from a bygone era.

Lacking the sophistication of modern shooters, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation wears its classical style on its sleeve.

Despite being heavily outnumbered at all times, Daniel has an arsenal of inventive and over-the-top weaponry, as well as access to a ton of ammo.

Weapons - ranging from classic shotguns and grenade launchers to soul sucking blade-saws - are one of the game's highlights.

The inclusion of secondary fire modes, meanwhile - such as chain guns and ice bolts - provide new and inventive ways to lay waste to the game's near unlimited supply of monsters.

Even so, with levels that require players to clear an area, reach a checkpoint and repeat, no amount of over-the-top weaponry can stop the boredom from setting in.

It's fun in short bursts, but it's unlikely that you'll be craving more once the six-hour campaign reaches its climax.

Even the inclusion of colossal boss battles, which are impressive to look at despite some frame-rate issues, can't alleviate the boredom, largely due to a lack of challenge.

Intimidating encounters that should require every last drop of sweat and skill are disappointingly straightforward.

Only one of the bosses requires the use of grey matter, while the rest can be defeated by running in circles and keeping an eye open for ammo crates.

Regular monsters, meanwhile, will often get stuck behind obstacles, and like a classic Three Stooges gag, some of the game's larger enemies have trouble fitting through doorways, making it easy to pick them off.

That being said, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation isn't a complete write off. In addition to the game's fun weaponry, the environments look reasonably impressive, are hugely varied and well designed, if lacking any context.

They offer a nice mixture of wide open areas and tight spaces, though the run and gun strategy remains the same.

Intimidating encounters that should require every last drop of sweat and skill are disappointingly straightforward.

Outside of the single-player campaign, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation offers a decent number of multiplayer modes, including traditional favorites such as Deathmatch and Capture The Flag.

Unfortunately, with the game not due until August 30 in North America, multiplayer matches are hard to come by, with modes either completely empty or limited to two or three players.

It's a shame, because though some of the more prominent weapons don't lend themselves to fast-paced multiplayer battles, Painkiller: Hell and Damnation could provide a mindless alternative to some of the more cerebral online shooters.

The game does, however, contain a two-person split-screen mode, scaling the difficulty of the main campaign accordingly. Painkiller is definitely a lot more fun with company, although it's still not something you'll want to revisit too often.

Initially charming, the Painkiller: Hell and Damnation experience quickly becomes tired and repetitive, offering very little innovation and no long-term appeal beyond a few cool weapons, some attractive environments and a rocking soundtrack.

Despite being fans of the games on which it's based, Painkiller: Hell & Damnation is painfully dated, and unlikely to satisfy console gamers spoilt for choice in an oversaturated first-person shooter market.